1st POV Phoenix:
The first time I ever bonded to Jean was not intentional.
I was minding my own business. Drifting through the vastness of space, when a ship flew into my flames.
Naturally, it was destroyed. I never bothered learning their names.
I lost no sleep over it, for that is the way of things.
From life comes death, from death life. I am the alpha and the omega, I bring creation and destruction wherever I go. I am chaos and order. I burn away the impure and force change where stagnation and thus 'rot' spreads when I needed to, so that new life may sprout. I am the balance of life. I am the life giver, the life bringer. I am the life spark of the universe, of all universes. For all cycles that came and for all the cycles yet to come.
I am the Phoenix.
The death of a single ship did not move me and however many inhabitants it had.
Death is not the end and life is not merely the beginning. From their death would come new life. The cycle would continue.
For me that was the end of the matter. But not for the their friends, or their family, or their colleagues.
The destruction of that ship triggered a series of events that disturbed my peace. They came and they came and they came at me and they all died. One after the other.
My victory was absolute.
What I once considered nothing more but an accident by unfortunate fools was quickly reconsidered to be the death of mere passing imbeciles.
They simply would not stop coming. Like flies. No matter how many I swatted, two would take its place to give me grief, by disturbing my peace.
Worse. Eventually I attracted the eyes of a powerful figure. He sought to harness my connection to almost all universes, turn all universes into one and fashion himself into a god.
A single bout of a few blows was enough to make him scurry like the insignificant rat he was.
I could have kept fighting. Slaughtered them all till nothing was left alive. But that is not my way. It would have disturbed the balance, it happened whenever too much destruction or creation existed at once.
And so, infuriated and distracted I left my home. I was thinking about a solution to my problems. Maybe just migrating from my home and finding another would have stopped them from seeking me out?
I passed by a planet when it happened. Later I learned that the inhabitants called their planet Earth. What a pedestrian and insulting name. Why they wouldn't call their planet Gaia or Terra eludes me. But I digress.
Distracted as I was, perhaps even a touch arrogant in my belief that nothing would harm me, I did not pay attention to my surroundings. And so I was made victim of a cosmic storm and a freak accident.
Jean Grey was dying. She knocked out her friends and chose to sacrifice herself by guiding the space shuttle out of the cosmic storm with her telekinetic powers back to Earth.
Dying and would be dead, if the accident would not have imprisoned me inside of Jean.
It was the first time I experienced emotions as living beings did. I remember what she was going through. She was scared, frightened and terrified. But also determined. In a way I approved of her even then, infuriated and apoplectic as I was by my imprisonment. Through her death, she would have secured life. A principle I abide by.
But just because I experienced what she did, did not mean I was beholden to her emotions. And she also was not as powerful as I learned other Jeans to be. While the cosmic storm mutated her telekinetic powers further it was not enough to be a proper vessel for me. And yet I could not leave. I never learned the reason for that. And while a later event mutated her powers even further to finally be considered a proper vessel, I cared not.
Not then, at least.
All I wanted was to leave her. Worse, through another series of freak accidents I was taken further prisoner by Jeans emotions. She died and I lived for a time thinking myself to be Jean. I got better, of course. And I eventually escaped, the farce not able to hold me for long.
But I have to admit, the events did make me consider some things in a new light. And perhaps, I grew as a person...after I calmed down from my fury.
I came to miss Jean.
Though it was not the solution I would have first considered to my issues, it did offer me a home too. And by hiding myself in Jean I could also better hide my presence better from idiots who thought to use me for their own purposes. They would die, of course, but I have learned (thanks to living in Jean) that living beings are not as smart as I thought them to be. I did not want a repeat of people just coming at me with no end and thought.
And so I resurrected Jean. She was now a proper vessel. And I learned that she was an exception and not the rule. Most other Jeans were able to host me the moment she awakened her powers.
I also admit that experiencing life as living beings did was novel. I wanted more of that.
Unfortunately, while the first Jean did give me that, most other Jeans had their memory and power, most of it which was me, sealed by Xavier to protect her from her trauma. While I did not like that, I understood Xaviers intentions. I was holding back most of my powers. Yes, Jean could hold me, but even Jean had to get slowly accustomed to my powers. Granted thanks to her own powers making her a perfect vessel for me, that process would not take long. A side effect of that was that I experienced nothing that Jean experienced thanks to that.
But then Xavier never removed the memory and power blocks. Sometimes it was Jean herself that put the blocks in place.
In both cases I got angry. I wanted my connection to Jean to be fully developed. She and I where one. I could tear through the blocks myself, but I did that once. Never again. That Jeans is now catatonic, Jeans power got familiar with the blocks and would fight my attempts. They would lose, but at a cost. It had to be Jean herself that would remove the blocks willingly. She did that often enough that I learned to be patient even if i hated waiting.
Of course then Jean almost always lashed out, considering it a betrayal by Xavier. And I had her back, mostly because while I have learned to be patient I was still frustrated by my circumstances. It was cathartic to give Xavier a piece of my, her and our mind.
It took a while till I met Bell. Perhaps that was for the better, as Jeans and my relation was still new. I had to get my affairs in order and distractions could have complicated matters.
But I did meet him. Eventually.
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1st Time:
I watched from behind a very young Jeans eyes, 'imprisoned' by the blocks, as Xavier brought yet another student to the school. He was unremarkable, was my first thought. For Jean, it raised an eyebrow at his red eyes, but for me, all things considered, red eyed was the most unremarkable thing in the universe, what with some of the appearances I have seen.
''Jean, this one is Bell O'Quinn. He does not have the X-Gene, but like us he possesses powers. His parents died in a shootout between bank robbers. If you would be so kind to show him around the school as I take care of some of the paperwork I would appreciate it. I already showed him his room. Mr.O'Quinn if you wish to retreat to your room feel free to do so,'' Xavier told him kindly, resting his hand on a young Bells shoulder in comfort.
Jean agreed to the request, understanding that Xavier also wanted her to befriend him and offer him comfort. She would do that too, as she didn't really have any friends herself. I understood that while her powers got used to the blocks, bit and pieces of my powers till slipped through, minuscule as they were. It messed with her control and caused her to involuntarily read other peoples minds. Something that they were averse to.
Xavier nodded and departed.
''I'm sorry for your loss,'' Jean said kindly, lacking a little in tact.
''It's fine. They hopefully died in comfort, if not in worry, knowing their child would not die with them, even though he is now alone. They were good parents,'' Bell dismissed.
Jean did not know what to do with such an answer. She did feel a small pang of envy as him calling his parents good. Hers abandoned her shortly after she came here.
''Sooooo, what is your power?,'' Jean curiously asked, moving on from the matter.
''Gravity,'' Bell replied.
''That is pretty cool. My power is telekinesis,'' Jean fearfully hid her other power. I pity her a bit, my friend and host fears she would drive him away if she accidentally reads his mind with her telepathy.
''It is a versatile power. Powerful too, if you have the aptitude to push the limits,'' Bell pointed out.
Jean nodded eagerly at her friend having bought the lie, even if she did not know what versatile or aptitude meant.
''Professor Xavier, instructed you to show me around,'' Bell reminded her. I could tell he preferred solitude like I once did. He wished to grieve alone.
''Oh right. Onwards to the playing room. The most important room here,'' Jean pointed eager to spend time with her new friend.
She missed it, but I noticed his annoyed sigh.
It was during their exploration that Jean slipped up and sent out a telepathic probe. Young as she was she did not possess the control to mask her probes quite yet. Even the non telepathic ones felt when she used her powers on them at this point in time.
And it was here that my opinion on Bell changed.
Though I did not feel Jeans emotions I did feel her thoughts, or could discern them. Jean halted in her movement, fearing her telepathic probe would push her new friend away. But her fear quickly turned to disbelief when she noticed that while she could read others peoples minds, she failed to do so with Bell.
For now, he had my attention, but I couldn't do too much in trying to investigate him, or I'll would have risked Jeans well being.
''Hm. You lack control. You should train to better at that,''Bell simply told her. Jean mistook it for a reprimand and she quickly agreed with a nod.
Jean did not mind Bell making his way to his rooms, after the tour. She understood that he probably wanted to grieve alone for now. But tomorrow she would cheer her new friend up.
---
Bell was difficult and frustrating in Jeans opinion. He did not quiet push her away, but he made no effort to build upon their friendship. But for now, he was her only friend and so she pushed past her frustration.
But things change. They always change. Jean and Bell grew up and new students joined the school. Scott, Katherine, Anna Marie or Rogue as she preferred, Kurt and so on and so on.
I watched as Jean and Bell drifted apart. I admit, I love Jean as my host, but seeing her during her younger years could be a little frustrating sometimes. This move was pretty shallow of her. And yet, Bell bore no resentment for her, I could tell whenever the two were forced to interact with each other.
He almost seemed to prefer it, in fact.
And naturally, as always, they formed the X-Men. Bell was part of the team too, but not the leader. He was unpopular, as he was a recluse and besides Jean could not establish a telepathic link to him and the others. But he was good enough that he was made second in command anyway, in case Scott was not available.
''Where were you?,'' Scott confronted him one day. He convinced the others that Bell was up to something nefarious as he constantly disappeared from the grounds of the school for long periods of time. And so they all confronted him when he came back.
''Training,'' Bell simply answered, completely calm.
''We have the simulation room for that,'' Scott countered.
''I wasn't aware the simulation room had some kind of monopoly over our lives,'' Bell snorted.
''Yeah? Or were you consorting with the Brotherhood of Mutants and selling our secrets?,'' Scott accused.
That was very out of the left field, I had to admit. There was no indication that could lead to such a conclusion.
Bell seemed to agree with that, merely raising an unimpressed eyebrow.
''Where were you? Tell us the truth this time,'' Scott demanded.
''And if I don't?,'' Bell asked him, appearing bored.
''Then you have no place here. You are a flight risk to the others,'' Scott argued and the others nodded, including Jean.
For the first time ever, Bell appeared amused.
''Oh? This is not your manse to speak with such authority. But sure, I will go pack my things and leave,'' for Bell the matter was closed it seemed and he began making his way to his room.
Ah, he was that kind of man. The kind that is not easy to blackmail. Either he considers their leverage over him to be redundant or he is that petty and seeks to spite them.
''Not so fast. I do not share their suspicion. I have seen you grow since you were a child at every ones knee. I know you and I KNOW you have no plans of betraying us. But I do worry for you and hoped that you would confess. Bell, you disappear with no notice and come home in cuts and bruises,'' Xavier decided to put a stop to this before things completely escalated.
''...I appreciate the fact you worry for me. Rest assured I am in no danger,'' Bell replied, offering no other words.
''I see. Very well, I know you enough to trust you at your words,'' Xavier relented.
''Professor, you can't mean that. He is hiding something,'' Scott argued.
''Enough Scott. As a leader you must realize that sometimes you will work with people that you will disagree with. They prefer things to do their own way, different from the way you would do things. That does not make him a threat or an enemy. You must work on that, if you wish to be the best leader you can be,'' Xavier chastised. Scott frowned and nodded while gritting his teeth.
I could tell it was not the end. For the others at least. Bell, once again seemed wholly unconcerned with the entire affair. As if he had already put the matter behind him.
Either he really did not care or he was occupied with more pressing matters.
That remained to be seen.
---
Another member joined their little rag tag group. Piotr. Colossus. He was telling them about his abducted missing sister, Illyana . Sometimes he had a sister sometimes not. Not every one existed in every universe. Jean did not exist in every universe. And so I had to settle for lesser hosts as much as I disliked it. But such is the price of my choice, to be hidden and maintain the balance.
The others promised to help him find her.
Bell made no such promise, earning himself a few scathing looks.
Instead he simply set out and was missing for days, then weeks, and then a month.
Eventually Illyana came knocking at their door.
Piotr was overjoyed, but that joy turned to ash as she recounted what happened.
It was Bellasco that kidnapped her to a place called Limbo. She did her best to survive and learned many things. It also aged her, as time passed faster in there, that is why she appeared older.
Illyana did not know how, but Bell found her. They tried to escape, Bellasco found out and they started battling. She with her dark sorceries, Bell with his gravity. The final attack, a black hole, detonated and brought the fight to an end. Limbo remained, but Illyana saw neither Bell or Bellascos corpse.
A black hole? That was an impressive accomplishment for someone that was not a reality warper or a cosmic or conceptual entity. I believed her when she said that Bell probably died, especially if that was his first time pushing his ability to the limits.
Tears were shed, Jean lived the rest of her life, long as it was thanks to me, with guilt about her first friend. I never found out the peculiarity that was Bells mind this time around.
By the time Jean and I fully connected, I was certain he was dead and so there was no way for me to investigate.
...
It would have been nice if this Jean could have lived without the guilt. It was rather vexing to feel guilty about something that I had no part in, but such is the consequence of my choice to stick with a host.
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2nd Time:
''Jean, this one is Bell O'Quinn. He does not have the X-Gene, but like us he possesses powers. His parents died in a shootout between bank robbers. If you would be so kind to show him around the school as I take care of some of the paperwork I would appreciate it. I already showed him his room. Mr.O'Quinn if you wish to retreat to your room feel free to do so,'' Xavier told him kindly, resting his hand on a young Bells shoulder in comfort.
Jean agreed to the request, understanding that Xavier also wanted her to befriend him and offer him comfort. She would do that too, as she didn't really have any friends herself. I understood that while her powers got used to the blocks, bit and pieces of my powers till slipped through, minuscule as they were. It messed with her control and caused her to involuntarily read other peoples minds. Something that they were averse to.
Xavier nodded and departed.
''I'm sorry for your loss,'' Jean said kindly, lacking a little in tact.
''It's fine. They hopefully died in comfort, if not in worry, knowing their child would not die with them, even though he is now alone. They were good parents,'' Bell dismissed.
Jean did not know what to do with such an answer. She did feel a small pang of jealousy as him calling his parents good. Hers abandoned her shortly after she came here.
''Sooooo, what is your power?,'' Jean curiously asked, moving on from the matter.
''Fire,'' Bell replied.
What?
The variants of the same person usually possess the same powers. It was merely a question of the extent of their powers. The personality could be different, mostly, but the powers were always the same. At worst they would not exist at all in one universe. But the power was always the same for the same person and their variants.
The mystery that was Bell just keeps getting more interesting.
---
It was not this time either, where I found out why Jean could not read Bells mind.
He died by turning himself into a supernova and destroying both the Shi'ar Empire as well as the Skrull Empire. They sought to conquer Earth. Both for their own purposes and reasons. It dragged most of the metahumans out into an intergalactic battle.
He even did some damage to the Null Space. Insignificant and minuscule as it was, it was still a testament that he managed to damage it at all.
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3rd Time:
''Electricity,'' Bell replied.
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5th Time:
''Water,'' Bell replied.
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10th Time:
''Telekinesis,'' Bell replied.
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11th Time:
He was a reality warper.
He was a reality warper and he chose to hide it.
Peculiar.
There is another thing. There is no change in his personality. He is always the same person, wanting to be left alone. Preferring solitude over companionship.
Always the same base and yet he was making different choices.
That still did not tell me why and how he was avoiding his mind being read.
Even Wanda could not properly shield herself from my attempts to read her mind even if she could give me trouble, whenever Jean and I fully bonded. And she was the nexus being that always hosted the Chaos Magic in her. As was Jean technically as she always hosted me. But unlike Wanda who always existed and was always the host of Chaos Magic, Jean was not always my host. There were instances where I was being hosted by someone else, if Jean did not exist in one universe. I could bring back someone from the dead, but forcing the birth of one person I could not do.
Was he too a nexus being? But of what? A nexus being was always hosting something.
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22nd Time:
Bell was a monster, to put it kindly.
He seemed to follow his desire to be miserable with a zeal that bordered on insanity. The same could be said about his desire to help. I could not tell if he was trying to repent for something or if that is just how he was. Or perhaps it could even be the cause of whatever he was hosting.
There was an obsessive need for him to be alone, even when surrounded by people.
I was pretty sure he was suicidal. Not in the depressive kind of way, but in the reckless kind of way.
Several times he has displayed the ability to retreat when he was by himself and the stakes where not judged high enough by him. But add into the equation some that needed to be saved? He would not retreat, most of the times, especially if dialogue failed.
He was stubborn.
He was alien.
He was foreign.
He was... distorted.
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23rd Time:
Sometimes Bell never made his way to Xaviers school. Whenever I fully bonded to Jean, the two of us could communicate. I wanted to investigate something and she obliged.
It was not easy to track him down. Once he was far enough he disappeared into the backgroung thanks to his peculiar mind abilities.
We found him below a bridge, living like a homeless person.
Jean offered him a place at the school when she found out from me that he had powers.
Bell was polite, but he put a wall between them, making it clear that he would not come with her or want him to be her friend.
When Jean replied that this was no way to live, he shrugged and replied that this was temporary. He had plans for the future, but for now this situation suited him just fine.
Jean tried to convince him otherwise, but he stubbornly shooed her away.
The next day Jean came back and Bell was nowhere to be seen.
...
This was the first time I encountered him when Jean and I already were fully bonded. While she was talking, I investigated.
Power.
So much power.
Like a tranquil ocean of unending night. Even in its tranquility I could tell the smallest ripple would cause tsunamis and drown entire universes in his might with ease.
And yet, this power was familiar to me.
It took me a while, but I finally recognized his power.
Void powers. Not any void, as some of the entities roaming in the multiverse boast about.
THE Void.
The void above all voids.
The void that surrounds the multiverse. The one that prohibits any one from truly exiting to a journey to the great beyond. The one that nullifies all powers, making even the most arrogant humble. The one that protects us all, denying the creatures out there a gateway into our multiverse. What terrifying monsters must it keep out?
How was that power here now? Why was Bell a host to these power? Did he have a access to the full power of the void or only a fraction? Not that that seemed to make much of a difference. Was he a host at all or was he the god responsible for the void? Why was he here? Why did he never use this power? Was he struggling with it? Was he in a battle that robbed him of his control somehow and he came here to lick his wounds?
The last one was probably unlikely, in my opinion, but I couldn't be absolutely certain.
Questions over questions and little information to provide the answers.
At least now I had my answers to his ability to avoid getting his mind read. He must be shielding his mind with the void somehow and nullifying my powers even if he, inexplicably, could not use his powers for anything else.
For now, I avoided sharing my discoveries with Jean.
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24th Time.
Sometimes Bell did not exist at all in an universe.
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78th Time:
Jean reacted particularly violent about Xavier having put blocks on her, this time around. Before long she started losing control of her own powers and over my powers as well. Of course, I could have put a stop to this. But I did say it was cathartic to punish Xavier from blocking and sealing me away from Jean, even if only for a while. And even if I planned to hold back my powers with a young Jean anyway.
And Xavier was not yet dead. Jean even having lost control, still had a part of her desire to not do harm to her family. Even if at the same time a part of Jean wanted to harm him and anyone that stood in their way.
Logan was grunting and making choking noises as he struggled to approach Jean. Every step saw him being disintegrated by her powers, molecule by molecule. Only his regeneration healed it right back up.
The others were taking cover far away, yelling at Logan not to do her harm. I nearly snorted. As if some measly metal could actually do us harm.
He approached more and more till he stood right before her.
''Kill me,'' Jean requested with a trembling voice.
My smugness vanished as I discovered that Jean actually meant that request and her defenses began to weaken.
Logan looked at her with a conflicted expression, but he made the choice to abide her request and moved to slam his adamantium claws into her heart.
Right before he could do that a fridge slammed into Logan and he flew away from my host. Before Jean quiet understood what was happening a stranger was standing beside her and he slammed his newspaper over her head.
''Are you done?,'' Bell asked.
''Who are you?,'' Jean asked him, rubbing the spot on her head. He hit her very hard.
''Bell. I was simply minding my own business, when I stumbled upon this whole commotion. Whoever is running this shit show, their surveillance is shit. I witnessed it all and I must say, you are being overdramatic,'' Bell mocked.
Well that was new. Normally he isn't that rude and insulting to someone. Only dismissive and sarcastic.
''Overd-? Did you not see me nearly kill everyone?,'' Jean asked him affronted.
Bell merely raised his eyebrow and looked at her feet, before looking around to the surroundings.
''You are not killing right now, though,'' Bell helpfully pointed out.
Jean opened her mouth to speak only for her to snap it back shut. He ... was right. His actions were so out of the blue and confusing that it distracted her from her rage. It was still there, but she was not acting out on it, nor was she under its haze anymore or controlled by it.
As it turned out Xavier was not particularly bright as he and the others chose this moment to emerge from their hiding spots. Jean immediately pushed them all back to their hiding places with a snarl.
Atta girl, I cheered her on.
''See? That was a display of restraint. Anyway, my job here is done. Good luck, trying to sort this out,'' Bell said his goodbyes.
''Wait, take me with you. Please,'' Jean requested.
''Hm? I just happened to take a walk nearby. I did not come here to be confronted with a surprise adoption. Besides, didn't you parents teach you not to take candy from a stranger or to enter a strangers car?,'' Bell asked her, raising his eyebrow.
''I'm not really inclined to listen to my parent right now,'' Jean spat.
''I meant your actual parents,'' Bell rolled his eyes.
''I always was a rebel,'' Jean defiantly answered, choosing not to go into her history for now. She was quite confident she would be able to defend herself, should he attack her. But for now she really wanted to go away from here for now.
Bell starred at her for a bit, before turning around and walking away.
''Do what you want. It is a free country,'' Bell told her dismissively.
Jean followed him eagerly, wanting to get away from here. And if some people tried to protest from far away, well I could safely say that this Jean was vindictive as she pressed them down into the ground again.
---
Years later Jean stood alongside, Erik, Frost and Shaw as they watched from the office of their tower the Krakoan landscape. Jean watched as people moved about way down below.
I have to admit it was an interesting turn of events. The very first time I encountered the Hellfire Club I was made victim and made to believe that I was Jean Grey. Now several universes later, Jean and I are allied with the Hellfire Club.
Of course that did not mean everything was sunrays and rainbows. While all here in the Krakoan Council have an interest in seeing the country prosper, they wanted to see it prosper 'the right way', aka under them in order to ensure that not only did the country prosper, but also that mutant supremacy would be ensured.
Which meant politics.
Jean and I knew that Shaw and Erik had desires to kill each other at least. Both planned to manipulate Bell to their side. None were so dumb to think they could kill him or take him on, since they knew Jean and I would side with him. Two telekinetics were a nightmare. Frost wanted to ensure mutant survival more then anything and she was trying to do that by playing all sides to see who would truly come out on top.
The woman genuinely considered herself our rival. The thought was genuinely insulting, alas Jean was too polite to call her a bitch.
And Bell? No one knew what went through Bells mind till he said or did something.
''Isn't it beautiful?,'' Erik asked.
''It is,'' Shaw admitted.
For once the two were not trading veiled threats or barbs.
''Where is Mr.O'Quinn?,'' Emma asked instead sipping from her glass.
Speak of the devil and he shall arrive.
''Here,'' Bell said having just come into the office, causing them to set their attention on him.
''And where were you, my dear?,'' Emma smiled sultry at him, making Jean experience jealousy.
''While some people were busy preening like peacocks in front of cameras after a deal well made with the UN, I have been busy running around like a maniac trying to navigate the treachery afoot that was happening in the shadows. I already put a stop to these things,'' Bell told them giving Jean some documents.
I rolled my eyes. Sometimes, Bells own flair for dramatics shined through. He could have just told them, instead of letting them all read one by one.
It was about a directive of the US government. An operation where they planned on poisoning the waters with a cure that will dissolve the X-Gene bit by bit over time. Already they were working on fabricating a 'cure'.
''I trust you have handled such matters?,'' Shaw asked him.
''Of course. If everyone is super no one is super. They will find a 'cure', alright,'' Bell vindictively revealed. It took a bit for the news to digest.
''Excuse me?,'' Erik asked him, clearly seeking more elaboration on the subject.
''I admit I would have preferred handling things a little more ...delicately. But almost a decade passed since the existence of the X-Gene has become public knowledge and yet racism is as strong as ever. Racism can go both ways. If the poor saps are so envious of our powers that they would be willing to kill us, why not grant them what they want? Soon enough all will have their own powers. They should thank me for my graciousness. I could have very well settled to kill such a lowly life form,'' Bell sneered.
They all knew he was not serious, but merely mocking the thought process.
''You seek to muddy the waters. If they still insist on being racist, then they very well might be seeking the death of their friends, family and even themselves. If everyone is super no one is super indeed. Thought I admit that I would have preferred if we all talked about this decision first. But no matter this time around,'' Shaw appraised, with a nod.
Both Jean and I rolled our eyes. Yes, indeed. And if everyone was super then being at the top would be more difficult. It threw a nice wrench into Shaws plans in being the leader of earth. One could rule from the shadows only so much, before being forced to step into the light.
Erik handled this news with a bit more grace. He lamented that he would probably not rule over the mutants as he wished, but at least the threat about a mutant holocaust was almost completely diminished.
''How quickly can we expect the 'cure' to take effect?,'' Erik asked.
''Weeks. By then the first patient should emerge. I admit it will be a bit of a dice roll what powers exactly they will have,'' Bell said.
''Do you have any idea what you have done? You just changed the entire political landscape practically overnight. The fallout of this will be immense. Politicians will point their fingers at us,'' Emma pointed out.
Bell just shrugged as if changing the world irrevocably was a trivial matter. I was confident that for him it was. That is the way things usually go with reality warpers when they set their mind to it.
''The anniversary of Krakoa will come in a few months. It must be a grand event to celebrate the occasion. I trust preparations are already in order?,'' Bell changed the subject.
''They are. And I trust you and I will, of course, dance,'' Emma smiled seductively at him, making Jeans skin prickle.
Bell cast her a side ways glance.
''One dance would be polite,'' Bell acquiesced. Emma smiled considering it a victory.
Two dances would imply something, I finished in my head.
''I trust you will dance with me too?,'' Jean asked him..
Bell cast a side eye too.
''One dance would be polite,'' he repeated, making Jean smile.
Bells actions were taken up as a subject again. He would not escape giving an explanation this time, not so easily at least. They also wanted to make contingencies to the fallout of his plans or if it goes south.
---
''It's nice. What we have all built together, I mean. I hope one day, mutants can exist peacefully with the rest of humanity,'' Jean said as the two danced during the Gala.
''To be fair, I understand their fear. While a majority of those who possess the X-Gene have no powers that grant them a direct combat application is massive, the few that do possess powers for battle can cause huge damage. And did cause huge damage. It did not help that politicians had an easy target to point at and blame for all the worlds troubles,'' Bell sneered,'' As if mutants were responsible for climate change or microplastics in water and etc. Certainly we must find a solution when the population of metahumans explodes. The police all over the world must undergo a reform. Several laws too. We will be kept busy the next few years.''
Jean nodded. Shortly afterwards she was spun around and he pulled her back to him.
''I never thanked you, did I? I am here because of you. I accomplished all this, because of you. I don't think I ever want to be any where else,'' Jean shared.
''You are here because of your own actions. You stubbornly chased after me,'' Bell dismissed her thanks in typical fashion.
''I did. That is true. But neither did you truly push me away. You let me follow you. And you shared many stories with me and gave me wisdom and comfort when I needed it. Saved my back a few times too. Don't try to weasel your way out of this,'' Jean sternly demanded.
''Hm. Then I won't weasel my way out of it,'' Bell told her.
Jean frowned not missing out on his dispassionate tone. She sighed.
''Right. I opened up the subject, because I still love you,'' Jean told him.
''I distinctly remember having this conversation a few years back. I thought you moved on,'' Bell frowned.
''We did. And you said, you did not love me back. And when asked you also said, you love no one else and will probably never enter a relationship any way. You also said that we will revisit the subject years later. Well. Here we are, years later,'' Jean pointed out squeezing him a little.
''I said that so you could give me peace. You are not naive enough to believe I actually meant the last part. I hoped the years would make you move on,'' Bell pointed out.
''You ruined me for anyone else... But it is fine. We have time. I can wait for many more years, till you reciprocate my love,'' Jean told him. They were both immortal.
''It is your time. Do with it what you want. Just know you are setting yourself up for disappointment,'' Bell told her after some time passed.
''Can you at least not dance with Frost tonight,'' Jean pleaded with him.
''You know she actually has no feelings for me. Right? For her all are pawns to secure her plans. And she is willing to use any means necessary. For you, however, she will get out of her way to heckle. You are her rival after all. Just don't give her the reaction she wants when she makes any 'moves' at me and she will lose interest soon enough,'' Bell pacified her.
''She suffers from some sort of delusions, if she thinks she is some sort of rival of mine. Especially with her at my side,'' Jean scoffed.
''You did omit that fact from the others. You can't blame her for working with outdated information,'' Bell offered. Jean merely snorted and they continued to dance.
Jean was hurt, I felt it too, by his rejection. But she did want to make the best of this dance and commit it to memory. She will just use another time to try and convince Bell to love her back.
---
The years never came.
A few months after the Gala Bell died in a fight against Galactus. This was the most powerful variant of Bell I encountered yet, but even then he was not able to stand against Galactus.
One moment of distraction from both of us was all it took for him to die.
In my deepest heart I knew that a small part of Bell was glad that Jean would no longer waste her time on him now.
The Fool.
It was also the first time I tried bringing someone back from the dead that was not my host, mostly at Jeans plea, but also for reasons of my own. All life entered the White Hot Room. And all life came from it. As the one ruling above that space, bringing him back should have been a trivial matter.
No such thing occurred to my surprise. He remained dead and I found yet another thing about Bell and his powers out.
Jean was stricken with grief and I shared in her feelings as well.
It was the first time one of my hosts was in love with Bell.
And it did make me consider a few things. Things I have never considered before.
A mate for myself.
I saw Jean in her relationships often enough. I felt it too. But while we were one in body, we were, ultimately, still two different entities. Her affections, much as they might course through me and much as I may appreciate sharing in the feeling with her, were just that, empty gestures.
I had no real stakes in whatever partner she chose for herself.
I wanted MY partner. MY mate. Even better if Jean wanted him too, the thought appealed to me.
I never considered a mate for myself. But neither did I consider being hosted by someone before too. Before the first ever time I bonded to Jean I considered the thought anathema. An insult. Yet here I was, surprisingly quite content.
Why this and not the other too?
I did consider that my mate must at the very least be powerful. Granted I had no other idea what I should look in my mate aside from that.
But Bell was powerful. Beyond compare. It was just that his powers were dormant for some reason.
No matter. I can shield him, till he gets access to his powers. Surely as thanks he will chose me as his mate.
The more I thought on it the more the thought appealed to me.
Yes. Bell would be a fine choice.
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79th Time:
Of course, I almost forgot who exactly I was talking about and chose as my mate.
This time around Jean fell in love with him again too. I paid much more attention to what was appropriate in a mate from here on out. Jean did most of the heavy lifting, as I was admittedly out of my depth in this department.
He was good with children, even if he complained that children when disgusting when they were out of his earshot. He did not give up on some one easily just because things got hard. He was patient and while manipulative, always with a desire to see those around him better themselves, to a point.
All those qualities Jean found admirable and so I found them too.
He firmly rejected Jean when she eventually confessed.
It was fine. Bell was the same in every universe.
She did not want to push and neither did I fearing we would lose both his love (even if he did not give it to us) and his friendship.
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1267th Time:
My words proved prophetic in a sense. Bell was the same in every universe.
A man of solitude and misery.
He rejected me again.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18.476th Time:
And again.
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106.394th Time:
And again.
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498.769th Time:
I did not always meet him in a universe. As I said, sometimes he existed, sometimes he didn't.
But when he did, he rejected everyone.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.678.540th Time:
Each time I took with me a part of Jeans love for him as well, though she did not always fall in love with Bell. The only reason I did this was because there were stakes involved with Bell. I too already possessed love for him. Surely, if I take a part of Jeans love for him as well, my love would burn only brighter.
Eventually, the sight of Jean with another man sickened me. I started blocking off my emotions whenever a variant Jean laid with her mate.
I preferred to take mostly a back seat and let Jean lead, so long as balance would be maintained and no attention would be drawn to us that would threaten said balance. I used to love to share all my emotions with Jean and she her emotions with me.
But now, not every Jean variant brought me joy to be hosted, even if she was still the perfect vessel.
Things got more complicated when ever that happened and the two of us loved two different people.
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10.589.345th Time:
But I was persistent. The universe was vast. One could encounter almost every variation and variable, eventually.
All Bells were the same for some reason, they were just making different choices. I just needed to be patient.
Just one accepting and reciprocating my feelings would be enough.
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168.683.156th Time:
From strangers to barely friends, if someone pushed and proved stubborn to remain his friend hard enough.
From barely friends back to strangers whenever I moved my primary consciousness to the next universe.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Cycle after cycle.
The same song again and again.
But I endured, the grueling wait.
For I loved him.
Now, much more wiser and and 'older' on the subject, I knew, I truly loved him. Not just because of his power, thanks to Jeans lessons. But because of all his other qualities too.
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859.350.262nd Time:
Once I made the mistake of lashing out in frustration after a rejection.
He quickly turned into an enemy, when I proved particularly stubborn.
Neither I, Jean or he died, but things were never the same again.
Their relationship was frosty now.
Never again.
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1.679.216.485th Time:
...
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5.267.246.268th Time:
...
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195.378.236.790th Time:
...
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5.389.267.266.789th Time:
...
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105.368.780.276.238.209.725.156.014.596.687.941.678.276.279.902.683.123.701st Time:
I gave a mental sigh. I recognized that helmet. Nexus. A bit of an ironic name considering what he possibly was and what Jean technically was. It was not the first time I encountered him wearing that helmet.
Apparently he took the name from a video game.
I set myself up for another set of disappointment even if I hoped that this time it would be different. I listened to their conversation yearning for him to finally accept my love. He certainly appeared more open and upbeat with others this time, so I was particularly looking forwards this time.
...
''Sorry, Sorry. I was told I have a really screwed sense of humor. Besides, I already have a girlfriend and...,'' I did not hear the rest of the conversation.
What?
My heart felt like it shattered into a billion pieces. I don't think I could have ever experienced such pain before. No. Not pain. But agony.
A girlfriend?
A girlfriend that was not ...I?
A mate that was not I?
How was that fair? I was ready to dedicate myself to him. We were meant to be together. Why did some randOM WHORE GET TO HIM FIRST? I WANTED TO FIND HER AND BURN HER. INCINERATE HER UNTIL THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT. I WANTED TO MELT HER GUTS AND HER EYES AND EVERY PIECE OF FLESH PIECE BY PIECE!
WHY? WHY?!!!
HOW WAS SOME RANDOM WHORE BETTER THEN ME?
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. No. NO!
I needed to calm down, immediately. I almost lashed out and shattered the barriers in Jeans mind. I almost turned another Jean catatonic. I put my own mental barriers on top of the already existing barriers to protect Jean.
This is a joke, I despaired.
No. It had to be. After all this time, there was no way that I finally find a variant Bell that was willing to enter a relationship. And it was with someone that was with someone that was not me.
Yes, a joke. Someone probably put Bell up to this. Surely. Any moment the truth would be unveiled and it would be revealed that I was made the butt of a joke. Probably by some other cosmic or conceptual entity. For some reason.
I would not like it, but I will endure it with grace. I will move on and Bell and I would be together.
...
...
...
I wailed in frustration. Bell never make these types of jokes. Nothing would beat down his stubbornness for him to make such a joke, especially at some one elses behest without knowing who I was. And he never knew who I was, the first time we always meet. No, he would sooner die, before that would happen.
Why? How?
I didn't know what to think or say or to do with myself. I was paralyzed with inaction from sheer rage and frustration, stopped only by the consequences acting upon my fury would bring.
I did not wait SO. MANY. YEARS. Just for someone to walk into my matters and earn Bells love with no effort. The whore must have spread her legs for him. Yes, it must have been that.
My beak trembled.
Who was I trying to fool? Over the years, all kinds of women in beauty and in power threw themselves at him. He sparred no one even a passing glance. Temptation fled from him.
What did that bitch do right that I didn't?
Bell was mine. Mine!
No.
I was suddenly deathly calm.
I waited long enough.
I was patient long enough.
No more.
I will have him.
I WILL have him.
I will. Or no one will.
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3rd POV:
Bell had no idea how close to the edge Phoenix danced. How quickly the wrong gesture, word or anything really, could set Phoenix off into the deep end and have her lash out violently.
It was something she learned from him. When Bell was angry, he was agitated and moving erratically. When he was REALLY angry, he was deathly calm.
Phoenix appeared serene and calm, but like him when he was really angry, she would move at a moments notice to eliminate the threat brutally and with extreme prejudice. Killing Bell would be the last resort. But if he denied her, she would do it. She would.
Bell did not offer much resistance when Phoenix removed his helmet from his head when she broke off the hug. He had much bigger concerns. Besides, she already knew his identity.
'' 'My Beloved'. That is an interesting honorific to call me,'' Bell began.
''Not really. For that is what you are. My beloved,'' Phoenix simply said.
''Mhm. Your opening statement is peculiar. I remember the saying differently. I dreamt that we were strangers, I woke to find that we were dear to each other. A peculiar inversion of the poem,'' Bell let the subject hang between them.
Phoenix simply remained silent.
Bell narrowed his eyes at her.
''Two sentences, two implied questions. No answers. You do not wish to reply. Or perhaps... you gave me a hint. You want me to find the answer myself,'' Bell reasoned. Phoenix smiled. How can a bird smile? No, focus. He was on the right track.
Dreams, waking up. Hmm. Cycles? A pattern that repeated each night a living being went to sleep. Something reoccurring. Certainly plausible. Dreams; desires and fears. Waking up; reality and facts.
I dream that we are dear to each other. I keep waking to find that we are strangers.
I dreamt that we were strangers. I woke to find that we are dear to each other.
The tense is different too, compared to the original.
Why not:'I dreamt that we were dear to each other. I woke to find that we were strangers.' ?
Bell narrowed his eyes. That was a puzzle specifically for him. She knew he would solve it. Insider knowledge then. She was intimately aware of what he knew and what she needed to say to guide him somewhere with a few words, but no one should be able to do that.
...
Pattern recognition, repeating patterns, dreams and reality... lovers and strangers...
This is the first time he met Phoenix. He was certain his memory was not suddenly faulty. She was a stranger to him.... But not he to her. She knew him. Enough to be intimately aware of his thoughts without telepathy. Repeating patterns, she must have met many variants of him.
She waited for a long time. She won't wait anymore. He recounted the other thing she said.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
The puzzle pieces slowly, but then quickly feel into place.
'I keep meeting your variants, I keep falling for them and hoping for something. They reject me. I move on. And I woke up to a new Bell, that is a stranger. The cycle repeats.'
''Oh,'' Bell pressed his lips in a line.
''You were always exceptional at deductive reasoning. You said you wished to keep all your skills sharp even if you may never need them,'' Phoenix smiled at him proudly.
That...was true. He was experiencing a sort of uncanny valley effect.
''Exceptional deductive reasoning would have only brought me so far. You knew just the right words to say to guide me down your desired path,'' Bell denied her praise.
''That is true,'' Phoenix told him.
Well, she wanted him out of his depth. That was for sure. He was scrambling to have any sort of leverage in their conversation.
''I was hoping to talk about Jean...,'' Bell tried to change the subject instead.
''Jean can wait,'' she offered him no reprieve.
Bell released a soft breath. He remembered the brief sinister tone previously. Outright denying her was not immediately on the table. He needed to be soft and careful in his rejection.
''You know who I am. That seems hardly fair to me, for i don't know who I am talking to,'' Bell criticized.
''I already told you who I am,'' Phoenix reminded him.
''Your name, Phoenix, tells me little and nothing. A more proper introductions would be appreciated,'' Bell tried.
''No,'' she simply said.
Damn. She really wanted him to have no leverage, huh. She gave him nothing to work with, except what she wanted him to know and that was hardly useful to him.
''Were my variants impressive?,'' Bell tried.
''I'm here aren't I?,'' she asked him.
For fucks sake. She was not giving him a single inch.
''You let Jean get poisoned and kidnapped by Sinister,'' Bell shot in the dark now.
''No,'' Phoenix denied firmly.
''But it served your purposes anyway,'' Bell further tried.
''Yes,'' she replied. Well, there goes any leverage he could have had from that.
Bell was stumped. He failed to see any other way to attack during this conversation.
''The multiverse is vast, surely you will find one of my variant that is not already... occupied,'' Bell tentatively opened the can of worms with a small grimace.
''How did she do it?,'' Phoenix asked.
''...Well, there was of course more nuance then that, but essentially it boiled down to her telling me to shut up and love her,'' Bell replied.
The flames grew a little bit hotter. She tried that once or twice, it did not work for her. Why would it work for that bitch?
''The multiverse is vast, yes, which is why I am here. You are stubborn,'' she said to him. He nodded. He was stubborn. And why did it sound like she waited along time for this moment?
''Phoenix, I appreciate the gesture, but...,'' before Bell could finish a vortex of flames enveloped the bird. When it dissipated a flaming woman stood before him, with curves in all the right places. Bell barely passed her a glance, infuriating her as she spent a long time on carefully optimizing her body.
''But I have a girlfriend,'' Bell gently finished his sentence.
''Oh. And who would be your girlfriend?,'' Phoenix asked leisurely, twirling a strand of hair.
Bell was not dumb enough to reveal her name out loud.
''Phoenix, I'm sure you will eventually find someone make you happy,'' Bell gently told her. With no other way to navigate this conversation, he was forced to tread the dangerous waters provided by her.
She starred at him with some shock, before hanging her head, her hair obscuring her face. She began trembling, slowly she began letting out sniggers, which turned into chuckles. Eventually she threw her head back letting out a mad cackle.
Bell took a step back in caution, only to be immediately slammed into the wall and then the ground. It deed not really do damage, but the speed took him by surprise and he did not fight back, still cautious and worrying over Jeans mindscape.
Telekinetic constructs in the form of shackles bound his wrists to the ground before he could stand up. Phoenix landed on his hips and brought her face uncomfortably close to his own.
''Who is she?,'' she asked with a deathly calm as her fingers began softly touching his face.
Bell closed his eyes in thought. She was crazy.
Screw this. Fuck treating this matter delicately and gently. He was going nuclear.
''Someone better then you,'' Bell mocked.
Phoenix became deathly still.
''She got me out of that dump with her sheer presence of her character alone. No amount of power you hold will compare to that. I could hardly halfass the relationship by then, now could? So I got better and solved my issues. What have you done, but move from one variant of mine to the next? She stood by me. And now you want to reap her efforts and kill her too. You have a really warped sense of reality if you think that will endear you to me,'' Bell continued to mock her, taking a few shots in the dark in his accusations.
Phoenix' expression turned into apoplectic fury, before quickly turning into simmering anger. She leaned back from his face a dropped her back into his groin.
''You were always good at compromising too. Fine. Then break things off with her. She can keep her life as thanks,'' Phoenix graciously offered.
That is right. He had almost forgotten. He had no leverage except one. Himself. He was her prize. He had to dangle it in front of her and try to get a peaceful resolution.
''Mmmm. I think not,'' Bell denied. Immediately her hands were around his throat, squeezing.
''You think this prison will hold me? I could tear through it like butter. The only thing that stays my hand is Jeans well being, but eventually she and I will be one. In body if not in spirit. It always happens. I do not need you to do anything. Once I'm fully connected to her and able to stretch my wings all I need to do is read through everyones mind on earth, sort through their memories and find your precious girlfriend.
Yes, I like the sound of that. I will do the killing myself. And then I will present you with her pale dead corpse,'' Phoenix snarled.
''Do it,'' Bell told her with a deathly calm. She stopped squeezing at the familiar reaction, even if it broke her heart to have THAT directed at her, it was for his own good.
''Do it and I will never rest. I do no care who you are, what you are and how integral you are in the universal scale. I do not care how long it takes and what I must sacrifice. I will drag my soul from the pits of hell, if I must. I will kill you. Of that there will be no doubt,'' Bell calmly told her.
(Stan tensed in his Pizzeria at where the conversation was going. Things could deteriorate into a cataclysmic event that would wipe out almost all life across the multiverse.)
''From life comes death, from death life. I am the alpha and the omega, I bring creation and destruction wherever I go. I am chaos and order. I burn away the impure and force change where stagnation and thus 'rot' spreads when I needed to, so that new life may sprout. I am the balance of life. I am the life giver, the life bringer. I am the life spark of the universe, of all universes. For all cycles that came and for all the cycles yet to come.
You would never kill me,'' Phoenix told him about herself vindictively. Now that he was made aware of the consequences she knew that Bell would never harm her.
''I will kill you,'' Bell repeated once again with a calmness belying his anger. It shocked them both, as the both could tell he meant it.
''You...No. You would never take any action that could cause such consequences,'' Phoenix denied, finding the notion of him doing that absurd.
''I would. Love is terrifying,'' Bell assured her.
Phoenix starred at him incredulously. He wouldn't... He would, she leaned back in shock fully letting go of his throat. He absolutely would, she realized in horror. She threw her head back and began madly laughing. A touch of desperation in her voice.
Slowly her laughter subsided.
''Things have reached this point then... You will not give up on your precious girlfriend and I will not give up on you. You have NO idea how long I waited for a single one of you to sweep me off my feet. You are the same in every universe,'' she gently pressed her body against his and began whispering in his ear,'' I waited eons, I waited the life span of entire solar systems, I waited more besides. It was your power that attracted me first to you. You really could kill me, if you tapped into that. But I slowly fell in love with you for all your other qualities.
I never knew love could be so intense. Or hurt so much. Love IS terrifying, you are right. It makes fools out of all of us, even me.''
She just continued to lay on him for a while after saying that. Bells wrists still bound by the telekinetic shackles above his head.
''I waited for a long time. I won't wait anymore. I can't wait anymore. I endured your variants rejections long enough... A compromise then. You were always good at those,'' she repeated those points again.
''It happens every now and then, with certain individuals. I suppose you are remarkable enough to qualify too. You certainly possess the power at least. A harem. I suppose that is a fine outcome. Jean and I are one in body, but two in spirit. We would have had to share you anyway,'' she tried to comfort herself with that argument.
Bell frowned and moved to speak, but Phoenix put her finger on his lips.
''No, Bell. I compromised enough. This the last offer you will be getting. Death or a harem. No other choice. Just those two. I am willing to give you a few days of contemplation. You may go. Also make sure to help Jean in confronting her trauma so that I can be free of these barriers earlier. The less I have to suffer them, the more goodwill you will earn,'' she talked as if she knew what choice he will make. She knew him. He would rage and fret and be agitated. He would be angry with her for a long time.
But he would take the compromise, she was sure of that.
But they were immortal. What was a few years of disappointment and disapproval compared to eternity. She could stomach that, so long as she was by his side in the end. She would have preferred to have him only to herself just like she had Jean, but she could stomach that too.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jean woke up groggily. She looked around in pure confusion at the unfamiliar surroundings. It took a few moments till she realized she was not in her room. She desperately looked around spotting Nexus in a chair, just silently sitting there with his head leaning on his fist.
Was he sleeping or gazing off into the distance?
''Nexus, where are we?,'' Jean asked groggily, rubbing her eyes.
Nexus did not respond. He was furious at the turn of events and trying to come up with ANYTHING that would help him.
''Nexus?,'' Jean struggled to move herself up from the medical bed to stand upright. She approached him and tried to touch his arm to get his attention.
Like a snake his arm sprung up to grab her by the wrist. She winced as he squeezed a little to hard, but then quickly let go as cold clarity returned to him. Jean and Phoenix are two separate entities even if one claims they had one body. He failed to see how exactly that relationship worked, but no matter. His rage was with Phoenix not with Jean.
''Sorry about that. You startled me, but that was no excuse for me to harm you. In case you haven't realized it yet, you were kidnapped,'' Nexus told her.
''Kidnapped?,'' Jean rubbed her eyes again, not quite comprehending her situation.
''By who?,'' she asked.
''By someone dead, a madman and the less you know of his ambitions the better you will rest,'' Nexus replied trying to reassure her.
Sinister was not dead.
Yet.
But he was an enemy and he would make for a convenient punching bag once he settled a few things with Jean. He could have used Sinister as a means to train the X-Men, he planned to, before entering Jeans mind, but now he changed his mind. He would not harm those that had no hand in his ... troubles, but fortunately there was always an imbecile that needed dying.
''Oh,'' Jean said.
''I'm a little disappointed Jean, I must say. I thought you would have taken my first advice to heart and used your telekinesis to consciously and eventually unconsciously filter out poisons from your system,'' Nexus chastised her.
''You can do that?,'' Jean asked in wonder.
''I met people who could. You are a powerful telekinetic and telepath. I'm sure you can do that too,'' Nexus lied a little.
''Oh.''
The drugs really did a number on her. Granted she was slow, but it seemed she still could understand the words that were coming out of his mouth.
''Let us bring you home, Jean,'' Nexus gently guided her with a hand on his back through a portal he cut open. She followed him, trusting him in this situation.
---
''Ah, Nexus and Jean. It is nice to see you. How can I help y...? Jean you do not look alright,'' Xavier said when they knocked on his door to his office. He let them in, but he quickly noticed that Jean worse for wear.
''That is because I'm not alright. I was drugged and kidnapped,'' Jean explained rubbing her head. She was slowly starting to get better.
''Drugged? Kidnapped? Who would do that? Do we know who it was? We need to bring him to justice for harming Jean,'' Xavier immediately get down to business, taking them by their words.
''He is already dead. Anyway. You both know of my mind. I may not be able to use telepathy, but I DO feel it when someone tries to probe my mind,'' Nexus began and Xavier nodded. So he did feel it when he tried to read Nexus mind for the first time and intentionally looked up to the camera.
''Jean on the other hand is peculiar. She is the most powerful telepath I have ever seen, for her probes do not register at all to me. And yet it registered to me when I encountered 'her' on the hallway,'' Nexus continued.
''You are accusing the current Jean to be a clone? You are saying that this one is the real Jean? Could she be a shapeshifter instead that also possesses telepathy and telekinesis?,'' Charles asked the two slowly calming down when he heard that the danger has passed.
''It is a clone and I doubt genetic screening will find any irregularities between Jean and her. And if it really was a shapeshifter, it would probably be the same,'' Nexus shrugged.
''Not necessarily. I was acquainted at one point with a powerful shapeshifter. Even she couldn't completely replicate the DNA of others,'' Charles rubbed his chin.
''Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe it is an even more powerful shapeshifter then your acquaintance. Though I don't know of which power to think that allows someone to replicate DNA perfectly as well as that, if she is truly a clone of mine,'' Jean argued.
''We can sit her and argue all day, but there is only one way to find out, if my word is not enough on that matter. Hank and Sarah are superb geneticist,'' Nexus pointed out. Granted Hank was more then just a geneticist, but that was not important right now. They would have need of just that particular skill.
''You are right. You can also tell us more about what you did then. Give me a moment, please,'' Xavier put his index and middle finger on his temple and closed his eyes. He sent out a telepathic command to several people.
'To the medical bay, my X-Men. It is a urgent matter.'
---
''And?,'' Ororo asked them.
''It will still take some time. Almost a minute at least,'' Sarah told her.
It was certainly a shock to see two Jeans in the medical bay, more so for some then for others. 'Jean' and Scott certainly reacted with more incredulity then any other here. Even more so when Nexus revealed the treachery afoot. While Sarah and Hank took samples from the two and were doing their work, Logan directed his gaze to Nexus.
''How did you find out, bub? My nose can't distinguish between the two,'' Logan asked, crossing his arms after sniffing at the two a few times. Granted one had Scotts scent on her, but aside from that the two shared the same scent. Laura and Hank nodded to confirm what he said, having smelt the same thing.
''It is personal. Nexus chose to share that information with me and I believe in it's credibility. I ask that you respect his privacy,'' Charles came to his rescue. He owed Nexus after all and while he didn't know why, Nexus did not want to share that fact about his mind. So long as they were allies he would respect that fact and they certainly were allies, for he just rescued one of his students and child when none were any wiser.
''We have the results. One moment,'' Hank requested. Both he and Kurt have forgone their watch that hides their appearance, so that they would have full access to their abilities. The X-Men were called after all and they thought they would battle. Turns out the battle was already long over.
His furry head moved between the two results and analyzed the papers. He handed the documents to Sarah to corroborate his findings.
''It is a 1 to 1. The two are exactly the same at the genetic level,'' Sarah told them.
''I don't understand. We were not told much besides, the fact that there are two Jeans. Charles or Nexus, please explain to us what we are dealing with here,'' Ororo requested.
''As already stated by Charles, I noticed through my means that there was an irregularity in Jean, so I started immediately suspecting...,'' Nexus began.
''Why would you immediately suspect? You could have been wrong,'' Scott interrupted.
''You people are not hearing me. Constant Vigilance. The suspicion alone would have been just that. A suspicion. But Jean told me that she intended to firmly reject you, only for then to do a 180 and enter a relationship with you? No. So I started investigating. I was always good at that. The trail led me to Nathaniel Essex...,'' Nexus continued.
''I don't believe you. I know Dr.Essex. I trust him,'' Scott spat.
Nexus just moved on not minding his interruption.
''And eventually I continued to follow the trail which led me down to a deep underground base. The battle was not easy. Especially with Jean there, but at least both of us had an interest in keeping her out of harms way. Whatever his reasons were at the time, at least I thought so during the battle.
He could do a little bit of everything, but eventually I delivered the killing blow. And I was sure he was dead, for he faked his death twice and sought to ambush me. I disconnected Jean from the drugs and while I waited for them to wear off and for her to wake up, I went trough his base and uncovered his duplicity.
He possessed the power of molecular manipulation. With it he was able to manipulate his own DNA and copy others X-Gene to his own. I found a lot of papers with different peoples name on them and their powers. Logan was on it too. I had to get out my more powerful attacks to get trough his regeneration. It certainly explained while he could do a little bit of everything. It also explains why 'Jean' is a perfect clone of Jean,'' Nexus told them.
He wasn't actually completely sure, if Sinister really did possess the power of molecular manipulation, but it certainly made for a convenient scapegoat and also explained how 'Jean' was a perfect clone of Jean. For all he knew Sinister was a reality warper. He would soon have an answer when he hunts him down.
And soon enough Sinister would not be able disprove anything.
''I also found papers detailing how he was interested in Scotts and Jeans X-Genes. Jean he could not manipulate, but Scott was regularly subjected to compulsions during his therapy sessions so that Charles would not notice anything.
I even found papers detailing how he used compulsions on her Jeans parents to make them hate her. Just so that she has no other place to go to except here. With a bit of luck, with his death they have recovered. If not then Charles, I must request you to pay them a visit. Or Jean can do that herself,'' Nexus told them. Jean whipped her head at that information.
''No,'' Scott denied what he said, shaking his head. 'Jean' shook her head as well.
''I will visit them tomorrow. Professor, I don't care if I lose out on lessons,'' Jean declared firmly.
''Of course. You went though quite the ordeal. I will excuse you, as well as Scott and 'Jean' for the next few days so that you get your mind in order and sort through this all,'' Charles readily agreed.
Hank rubbed his chin in contemplation.
''It is certainly possible to do that with molecular manipulation. Although I have never seen it in practice the theory is sound. But then, why would he want Jean and Scott to be together, when she planned on rejecting him,'' Hank wondered.
''I found no papers. But I can guess. What eventually follows in a relationship?,'' Nexus asked them.
''Children. You suspect that he wanted to create some kind of super baby and absorb his DNA... or copy his DNA and add it to his own,'' Ororo concluded.
Nexus nodded.
''I don't understand. If I am a carbon copy of Jean, then why do I have her memories? Why could he mess with my mind but not Jeans? And I KNOW I am Jean. If I am not Jean, then who am I?,'' 'Jean' asked. She was hiding it well, but her whole world was just flipped over.
Nexus slumped his shoulder. She was a victim here, there was no doubt. But he could not answer those questions for her, for her had no answers.
''Maybe it was the drugs. It allowed him to do what he otherwise couldn't,'' Ororo reasoned and looked at Charles.
''More then plausible. I would certainly be defenseless mentally if I was out unconscious. Certainly I would not be able to defend myself actively at the very least,'' Charles confirmed her suspicions.
''I'm Jean. I know I am Jean. I know what I feel. I KNOW,'' 'Jean' repeated, starting to get hysterical.
Nexus put his hand on her shoulder grabbing her attention.
''You are a victim here, of that there is no doubt. But you are not Jean Grey. I'm going to tell you the same thing I once told Laura. Your tale may not have such a happy beginning, but that doesn't make you who you are. See it instead as an opportunity to be the one you truly want to be. A sort of new beginnings. It will be hard. Probably the hardest thing you will have ever done or will do, but you have people here that will help you. I would like to help you too,'' Nexus told her kindly.
'Jean' locked at him and then at the others around. Most of the X-Men and professors nodded in confirmation. Except Scott, who had his own issues to deal with.
''I... OK,'' she dropped defeated on a chair and started letting a few drops of tears out.
''I hate that I must do this now, but I will need a name for your documents,'' Hank kindly opened the subject.
''...Madelyne,'' she eventually answered. It was a name she wanted to give her daughter, if she ever had one.
''Any last name?,'' Hank wrote her name down.
''...''
''Do you want me to give you a last name?,'' Hank asked further.
Madelyne nodded reluctantly.
''Very well. I will come up with a last name that you can be proud off,'' Hank promised her.
What a mess, Nexus determined. Looking at them, most of them looked mentally exhausted by what happened. Frankly he was too, thanks to Phoenix. And that was also a mess he had to navigate through soon enough.
At least it was not completely his mess to navigate through. And it was Jeans choice what to tell and what not to tell to the others about the matter.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bell entered Papi's Pizzeria and made a bee line towards Stan, while telepathically influencing the customers not to pay them any mind. He immediately came here after saying his goodbyes to the X-Men.
''Phoenix. What she told me. Is it true? Can I kill her?,'' Bell got immediately to the point.
''She is extremely powerful. Very few are more powerful then her, me included. And she is integral to all life. Truly and completely killing her, if you even manage that, will see a LOT of lives wiped out across the multiverse. The name Phoenix is not just for show, by the way, she will quickly come back every time she is killed,'' Stan immediately replied.
''What is she?,'' Bell asked, wanting further confirmation.
'''She is a cosmic entity. Responsible and governing over the life force of the entire multiverse. I would have to insist that you do NOT kill her,'' Stan replied firmly.
There was a warning in his tone.
''The SOLE governor of the multiverses life force? Does no one else share in her duties?,'' Bell asked him.
''A few. But it is more like a small delegation of duties. She can always take those privileges away. The idea of a harem is anathema to you?,'' Stan asked him.
Bell narrowed his eyes at him.
''You would be surprised how often it happens in the multiverse,'' Stan continued, calmly taking a glass and beginning to clean it.
''With women too?,'' Bell sneered.
''Hmm. Contrary to what some people believe. There ARE differences between men and women. It does not matter, if they are Skrulls, Titans, Humans or who knows what else. Men are territorial and meant to be the providers, where as women are meant to be caretakers. Of course, a species may evolve enough that there can be exceptions to that or the roles can be treated with a little more wiggle room as humanity currently does.
And some beings are exceptions by default for being to different compared to mortals.
But yes harems do exist. More so on the mens side then on the womens, those on the womens are a lot more tense however. But they exist alright. Power attracts both challengers and allies alike, you must have noticed,'' Stan explained patiently.
Bell grit his teeth to the point of almost shattering them.
After a while he closed his eyes.
''You have given me some things to think about. Thank you,'' Bell turned around, but not without forgetting his manners.
---
Bell slammed a metal bat on the steel pipe several times. He was in an abandoned factory and he was using his powers so that no one would pay attention to him, just in case.
Then again. With how many times he slammed the bat into the pipe, it was no longer accurate to talk about a pipe anymore. Nor for that matter to call it a deformed pipe, as he hit it into an almost ball. The bat was fine as he telekinetically reinforced it.
He let go during one of his swings and let the bat fly away. Then he began pacing around.
Bell never thought he could experience such a rage towards anyone else except a leech or someone who would kill Gwen or harm his loved ones. Even if he would just snatch her soul and quickly make her a new body. He would still get angry out of principle.
No. No. Sinister could be a reality warper for all he cared. He would kill him.
A rational part of him wanted to point out that he needed to calm down, least he make a mistake that would be costly. And that Sinister, while deserving death, was not responsible for the events that happened with Phoenix. She would have just sought him out anyway, when Jean would have removed the barriers at one point or another.
His confrontation with Phoenix was inevitable.
But frankly?
He was way past the point of caring or needing to temporarily control his anger.
He wanted to be irrational.
He wanted to be very irrational.
---
Sinister sneered in another one of his bases. Years. Decades. Almost a century. Undone and he did not even have anything to show for it. The face of his aggressor was completely alien to him.
He was utterly and completely left in the dark. By now, his plans have been probably revealed to the X-Men. It will not be so easy to get access to Scott and Jean again.
But he would do it.
He was Sinister. He would always come out on top. Even against Him.
It was just a matter of carefully planning and executing his plans.
Yes.
It was just a small setback. One he will bounce back from, he comforted himself.
He needed to be meticulous.
First he needed to have a measure of the events that happened, just to lay the groundwork. Then he needed to consider the fallout and the consequences. Afterwards he needed to...
?!?!
What? He just lost the connections to his Moira Engine and all the telepathic thoughts of his consciousness he implanted in a few others minds, so that he would come back one way or another.
Before he could even grasp what had happened, a force the likes of which he had never felt before pressed down on him. And before he could even formulate the thought to use his umbrakinesis to turn into a puddle in his own shadow, he was flattened on the ground, all his bones breaking, yet not sticking out of his skin as the too were subjected to this force.
Sinister shortly afterwards turned into a puddle in his umbrakinesis. It was probably gravity that was pressing down on him but shadows were not affected by gravity. In the shadows he was also allowed to heal his body. He made to quickly slither away.
Only for a hand to slam into the shadows and grab his head before pulling him out by his head.
He tried manipulating his body itself to form into a 'liquid' to escape his attackers grasp. But his body did not obey him.
Finally he looked at his aggressor and saw Nexus.
He opened his mouth to speak to him, except Nexus punched him in the mouth with enough force to go through his defenses and make it explode. His teeth clattering on the ground.
Shortly afterwards Sinister felt his mind getting violently torn trough with no finesse and care and he started moaning in sheer agony.
Nexus gave self satisfied smile to himself as he read through Sinisters memories. It seemed he was right in almost all of his speculations, regarding Sinisters intentions.
He did love keeping all his skills sharp. Sure he could have just hunted Jeans kidnapper down and then ripped the answers from his head one way or another, but he preferred it this way.
But there was more.
Apocalypse.
Sinister feared him.
Hmmm. Tch.
Useless shit. He does not know Apocalypses location for the idiot did not earn his trust. But Sinister did know that Apocalypse was in a deep slumber. That was almost useless information to him. With no brain activity Nexus could not track down Apocalypse, but at least now he knew of his existence. It seemed Sinister had similar powers to him, but he was much more powerful then Sinister.
He also saw Sinisters contingencies. His Moira Engine. Though Nexus knew it probably was not really turning back time whenever Sinister died. Stan assure him Time was them most guarded out off all the forces. Several entities had an interest in not creating a mess by constantly letting it get turned back. The Earth was too much space to turn back time on. Hell, even he would stop someone from interfering with time. What it was probably doing was send out information upon his death to another dimension where hings were similar enough. Sinister also planted his consciousness in others peoples minds.
That sounded remarkably like a horcrux. What was he? Voldemort?
Nexus mood soured even further as a memory unbidden surfaced to the front.
'You were always exceptional at deductive reasoning. You said you wished to keep all your skills sharp even if you may never need them'.
God fucking damn it. Nexus snarled.
'' You? How? How?! You can't not touch me. It is not possible. You are nothi-,''Sinister was silenced courtesy of another fist to the face.
''It is not your words I seek. Just noises. I already severed your connection to your contingencies.
Come.
You will witness true horror,'' Nexus stood up and materialized a hook before slamming it into his calf and began dragging Sinister after him. Sinister left a trail behind him as his dug into the ground to try and get away from Nexus.
He tried several things to get away from him.
Umbrakinesis again.
Telepathic attacks.
Fire. Ice. Electricity.
He tried sucking the air away from Nexus to choke him.
Molecular manipulation to shape his body.
Kinetic blasts.
Super strength.
And so on and so forth.
They all failed. Sinister suspected why. He could feel a haze in his mind. Nexus did something when he went through his mind to mess with the control of his abilities.
And that was true. But Nexus also took hold of every molecule in his body himself. None of the atoms in him would obey Sinisters commands, unless Nexus would let them.
Sinister was powerful. He copied and added enough powers to his own over the years for that to be true, certainly.
In another world, Sinister would have proven a headache for Nexus. In another world, his slippery nature would have kept Sinister alive from Nexus grasps. In another world entirely he would have even managed to kill Bell.
In another world...
In another world...
But this was not another world. This was here.
Nexus was a reality warper. An angry one. And intense emotions were dangerous in their hands. It amplified their powers. Sometimes in ways no one could imagine, not even themselves.
Sinister made for a fine punching bag.
His death would be long and agonizing.
Horrific too.
This place will be his tomb.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nexus was much calmer as he starred down the congregation of flesh at his feet.
He took his time and was meticulous. And vicious.
He materialized a chair and sat down on it while looking through the room at all the blood and instruments.
With his mind more at ease he now could finally think about making a decision.
Hmm.
But first...
Nexus starred at his hand and clenched it into a fist a few times. He noticed his powers behaved much different then usual.
No. Nexus shook his head.
Priorities.
First Phoenix. Then Katherine. Then he can explore the peculiarity he noticed during the 'battle' with Sinister and the torture.
He did mean it when he said he will kill Phoenix if she killed Gwen. But then it sounded as killing her was not so simple. She seemed to have the same defense mechanism as him.
A respawn point.
It took a lot of effort and techincally he didn't use his void aspect itself, he just tied his consciousness and energy to his void mind really closely. For now, if someone had greater energy control then him, they could still permanently kill him by severing that connection to his void mind.
But he digressed from his point.
It seemed Phoenix had a proper respawn point.
A battle with her would be hard.
Worse.
From his brief interaction, Stan would probably side with her.
Fuck.
Then again it would serve his long term advancement to have two such powerful entities on the same team. Eventually he would rule over all of Earth. And Stan was right, powerful invited challengers. It would consolidate and centralize rulership.
Nexus shook his head and shoved the rational and pragmatic thought into a deep dark corner.
Stan basically gave him advice when he talked about harems. He was suggesting to accept the deal.
But how was that fair to Gwen?
Nexus clicked his tongue and began tapping his finger on the arm chair.
Phoenix would kill Gwen if he rejected her. He would kill Phoenix if she killed Gwen or die trying himself.
IF.
It all boiled down to that, didn't it?
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
If you love something/ someone let it free. If it comes back to you it was meant to be. If not, then it was never meant to be.
It sounded corny, but it did provide Nexus with a course of action.
He could not ask Gwen to make that sacrifice. He would not.
He really loved her and did not want to break things off. But neither could he risk putting her in harms way. He would prefer her not dying. Better yet, he would prefer things not escalating to that point at all.
If he could take a path that would avoid putting her in harms way, then he would take it.
Because frankly, things were not looking good for him. Two very powerful entities against one and he barely progressed with his void aspect in any meaningful way.
He would also prefer not killing the multiverse if he actually succeeded in killing Phoenix, unlikely as that was. He would, if she killed Gwen. But that would only make him a worse monster then he already was before entering a relationship with Gwen and he would rather avoid that.
Gwen would probably not want that for him as well.
Nexus threw the chair against the wall after standing up. It shattered into thousand pieces.
With great reluctance Nexus made his choice.
---
Gwen moved her attention from her homework to her window when she hear a knock there. She smiled upon seeing Bell and quickly moved to let him in into her room.
''Hello, pervert. Sneaking like this up the fire escape ladder completely unannounced. Were you hoping to sneak a peek?,'' Gwen teased him a little and moved to give him a kiss on the lips.
''We need to talk,'' Bell turned his head, denying her the opportunity.
Her smile completely disappeared.
Everyone knew that dreaded sentence.
''Is something wrong?,'' Gwen asked him, turning serious and watching him like a hawk.
''Hmm. Not really. But I have been thinking recently. I don't really find myself satisfied with where I stand. With quite many things actually. Anyway, it is not important. To make a rather long story of my thought processes short, I wish to break things off with you,'' Bell told her calmly.
Gwen blinked at him, before closing her eyes to calm her self.
Alas, she failed.
With all her force she slapped Bell across the face. A loud sound echoed through her room, almost like a gun firing, and Bells head barely moved as Gwen shook her hand from the pain of the slap.
''I know you are angr-,'' Bell began.
''Pull the other one,'' she snapped interrupting him.
''The other one?,'' Bell asked slowly and confused.
''No one makes my decisions for me. You hear me! No one! Instead of trying to make a play at walking the self sacrificing boyfriend path and trying to shoulder the burden by yourself, why don't you instead tell me the truth?,'' Gwen bit out.
''What makes you think I'm not telling the truth?,'' Bell snorted.
That earned him another slap. This time Gwen tried to go above and beyond her powers and she winced as she felt her wrist crack. Bell quickly put her wrist in his hand and began healing her.
Gwen gave him a smug smile as he was doing that, considering it her victory.
''You are weird, Gwen. You know that? You seem to lack confidence when it comes to yourself as a partner. For some reason. But when it comes to being assertive, you suddenly have all the confidence in the world,'' Bell sighed, while rubbing her wrist.
''Don't change the subject,'' Gwen told him.
''Your strong personality is hot,'' Bell complimented.
''Don't change the subject,'' Gwen told him again, this time she was smiling a bit.
Bell sighed again, not knowing where to begin. Gwen grabbed his hand and pulled the two of them to her bed.
''Bell, you did not make such a huge deal of trying to solve your issues by yourself so that you can do right by me, just so that you can turn your back on me for no reason whatsoever. Your convictions are stronger then that. Which means that whatever trouble you have found yourself in, must be massive if it forced you to do something you wouldn't like. And for some reason that is by breaking things of with me?,'' Gwen asked the last part confused.
Bell took a deep breath. Then he began telling her about everything. He left out no details. The only thing he did not tell her was about Stan or the fact that it would be two against one in case a fight broke out.
''I see,'' Gwen simply said and closed her eyes to think.
''Gwen, I can't ask you to make that sacr-,'' Bell began.
''Shut up and let me think,'' Gwen interrupted.
For the next few minutes, almost half an hour, Bell watched her while she was thinking.
''OK. I don't mind you forming a harem. No more then ten,'' Gwen added the last part slightly joking, but she meant that a little too.
Bell starred incredulously at her and blinked a few times.
''What?! Gwen, that is not fair to you. I'm selfish enough that I want you all to myself. Of course I want to provide you the same courtesy,'' Bell argued.
''But I am yours,'' Gwen teased.
''Gwen!,'' Bell exclaimed.
''Bell, life is not fair. Isn't that what you always preach?,'' Gwen asked him.
''Of course life is not fair. That doesn't meant people should go out of their way to make life shittier. They should try to improve it as much as possible. But that is not the point,'' Bell shook his head.
''That is exactly the point! Do either of us like this turn of events? No. Clearly. But I don't want to lose you. You think you are the only one who is possessive of their partner? You are mine. But I can't defend you from her. And we both know what the consequences of denying her are. Do either of us want that too? No. Of course not. So we will meet on the middle ground and make the situation that we found ourselves in the best we can, despite how unfair it is. I'm just glad you managed to browbeat her with words into agreeing to compromise like this, considering she seems to be even more possessive of you then I am,'' Gwen pragmatically explained to Bell.
Bell released a low breath out of his mouth. Suddenly he chuckled a little.
''We make quite the pair. All this possessiveness is unhealthy,'' Bell chuckled.
''Bitch, please. I have some dignity. Of course I am possessive of my partner,'' Gwen snorted. Bell smiled approvingly at her, fully agreeing with that statement. So long as it did not turn into obsession or the possessiveness stifled someones growth it was fine.
A healthy dose of possessiveness a day, keeps the couple therapist away.
Or something.
Bell grabbed Gwen by the waist and pulled her towards him.
''Sorry, for all the baggage I bring with me,'' Bell apologized.
''It is fine. I did mean it. You know? No more then ten women,'' Gwen reminded him.
''You are talking as if I actually want more headaches,'' Bell snorted.
''Wow. So I'm only a headache for you? I can feel the love. But what Phoenix said got me thinking. She was attracted to your power. What is she is not the only one?,'' Gwen worriedly asked him.
Bell rested his head against hers.
''We'll cross that bridge when we get there,'' Bell told her.
''And I do not lack confidence. It's just I want to pull my own weight. And THEN my confidence takes a hit when it seems I can't do that,'' Gwen explained to him.
''Well, have no fear. You can pull your weight by slapping some sense into me. Metaphorically and literally, of course,'' Bell teased.
''Sorry,'' Gwen blushed.
Bell shushed her.
''It's fine. It didn't hurt me. You hurt yourself more then me. Gwen, you can pull your own weight. Maybe not in the same way I can, but I mean it. I appreciate everything you do,'' Bell assured her.
Gwen smiled tentatively as she looked into his eyes to see if he actually meant what he said.
Seeing no deception she kissed him.
Today was just mentally tiring.
(A.N.: 16530 words. I hit the cap of 100.000 characters. I didn't know the chapters had a limit. Or that it had a limit of 20.000 words. I had to cut out a part and move it to the the next chapter. Probably for the better as it did not thematically fit here completely anyway.
The more you know. I will keep that in mind in the future.
Hope you enjoyed reading it. Cheers.)